DANCE AND FESTIVAL

MOHINIYATTAM : Mohiniyattam, literally meaning ‘dance of the celestial enchantress’, is very lyrical. The dance of delicate gracealso known as "Dasiattam" . Lord Vishnu came to the rescue of the panic gods and assumed the female form of an amorous celestial dame Mohini. Captivating the demons with her charms, Mohini stole the elixir from them and restored it to the gods. This dance was adopted by the Devadasi or temple dancers, hence caled 'Dasiattam' which was very popular during the Chera reign from 9th to 12th century.
The dance of the enchantress contains elements of Bharathnatyam as well as the classical and folk dances of the state. Slow, graceful, swaying movements of the body and the limbs and highly emotive eyes and hand gestures are unique to mohiniyattam. It is performed as a solo dance and Mohiniyattom is performed by women wearing gold-bordered off-white saris and gold jewellery, their hair in a chignon high on one side of the head and encircled with white jasmine flowers and her neck hangs the serpent figure and from ankles brass bells tinkle and forehead wear vermilion.Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, king of erstwhile Travancore, breathed fresh life into the dance form making it popularand mohiniyattom along with other dance forms enjoyed royal patronage during his regime.

Kalarippayatt : Kalaripayattu is based on the principle of a sound mind in a healthy body and is one of the temple arts in South India. In 4th century A.D Bodhi Dharma a Buddhist monk spread Kalari payatt to Chinaand this art reached its peak in the 16 the century under different kingdoms. Their is a myth that sage Parasurama who built temples along south India introduced this art.

Kalari - a type of gymnasium built according to the vastushasthra giving each devathas (subtle beings or higher beings) its particular place. In the southwest corner kalari there is a poothara (an altar) with seven steps representing seven female powers including Bhadra Kali, and a Shiva linga on its top. And the students who come to leran this atr perform Pooja That will increase his concentration, which makes him proficient rapidly. The art includes seven shasthras (sciences) like Vastu, Jyothi, Marma, Ayurveda, Asana, Tantra and Mantra. The teacher , Gurukkal gives the knowledge of Marmas which he has to his disciples.Besides the physical training the disciple also receives the moral training. Kalaripayatt is practised in many parts of Kerala. Different styles, methods of Payatts exists, among them Vadakkan style's Thulunadan is considered as the highest.